5 digital accessibility tools for people with visual impairments
- Accessibility
- Equipe Editorial
Digital accessibility is a crucial aspect of building an inclusive online environment, enabling people with different types of functional diversity (a more inclusive term for disability) to interact, learn, and work independently. Among the various functional differences that can affect web navigation, visual impairment presents specific challenges that require appropriate technological solutions.
Here are five essential digital accessibility tools for people with visual impairments:
NVDA
Also known as NonVisual Desktop Access, this tool is compatible with most operating systems and can run on computers of all sizes, from the most basic to the most advanced. It allows blind or visually impaired users to read the screen using speech synthesizers or Braille, offering significant autonomy.
JAWS
Job Access With Speech is the world’s most popular screen reader. Developed by Microsoft, JAWS is a software that remains invisible during use, allowing voice commands to read windows and menus, providing information about bar and button functions. It requires a license, and the free version only works in forty-minute sessions that require a new login.
BE MY EYES
Was created to help people who are blind or have limited vision.
The app is made up of a global community of people who are blind or have limited vision, along with volunteers without visual impairments. Through video calls, volunteers provide visual assistance to blind and visually impaired people in situations ranging from matching colors to checking if the lights are on or preparing dinner. The app is free and available on both iOS and Android.
TALKBACK
Is an accessibility feature that helps people who are blind or have low vision interact with Android devices using spoken and touch feedback. When activated, it uses voice support to provide audio feedback, helping those with low or no vision select options in smartphone menus. When choosing an app or option, the device emits a descriptive sound, letting the user know what is being selected on the screen. Additionally, the system provides battery status information, identifies icons on the screen, and even reads WhatsApp messages.
VOICEOVER
It is the iPhone’s text-to-speech feature, included in the device’s accessibility options. Developed primarily for Mac, the tool is a powerful accessibility tool for the visually impaired. It can describe everything in the interface through simple gestures.
These digital accessibility tools are essential to ensuring that people with visual impairments can fully utilize the opportunities offered by technology. From screen readers to OCR applications and audiobook platforms, the diversity of available tools allows for a more inclusive and independent digital experience.
Be sure to share this information with those who need it.
T2M – Test to Market is not affiliated with or has any commercial relationships with the companies mentioned above. The sole purpose of this article is to provide information on some of the tools and technologies available to people with visual accessibility issues.
Related content
